The two boys mounted their brooms and left the ground. They flew up to the window James had spotted and hovered silently outside it. They could see four girls through the curtains, and one of them was Lily, her face red with anger.

"Orello", James whispered pointing at the window with his wand, and now he and Chris could hear every word that was said inside the room.

"Well, how did it go?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Why? What happened?"

"He made fun of me, he is a complete jerk. He just wanted to touch my breasts."

The rest was a high murmur of girl's voices, unable to understand to most men.

"She hates me, James. This isn't going to work."

"Yes, it is", he said from underneath the invisibility cloak. "I'll just hang here, she won't see me, and I'll tell you what to say. It can't fail. Now knock on the window."

Chris swallowed hard, stretched out his fist and knocked carefully on the window. Lily and the other girls turned to face him at once. They all looked very sour and their eyes told him to go away.

"Please, Lily, open up", he begged. "I'm sorry. I want to tell you something."

Lily opened the window and leaned out.

"What? That I've got hot thighs? Go to bed, Chris."

James could hear the other three girls cheer for her.

"No, nothing like that", Chris said. Then he turned to James.

"Now what?", he whispered.

"Tell her you were afraid."

"I was afraid, Lily", Chris said loudly.

"Of what?"

"Tell her you were afraid of emotions", James whispered.

"What?", Chris asked.

"Emotions."

"I was afraid of potions, Lily!"

Now the four girls inside the room looked completely confused.

"Potions?"

James sighed angrily.

"Come here", he hissed.

"I'll be right back, Lily", Chris said and disappeared out of the girls' view.

They both flew around the corner and James started to talk.

"This isn't working. We'll do it like this. You take my cloak, I'll take your broom, she'll recognise mine, and then I talk to her. I can put a charm on my voice and make it sound like yours."

"But she'll see you."

"There is a tree right outside her window. I can hide my face among the branches. Come on, it's the only way."

James could see Chris' mind work inside his brain, and then he said:

"Okay, James, but this better work."

James threw his cloak to Chris who put it on. They switched brooms in the air and James took out his wand. He pointed it at his neck and said:

"Vox differe."

They got to their positions; Chris was right next to James and James was hiding his face among the thick branches of the tree.

"Lily?", he called out, and saw the girls return to the window.

"Sorry I left, I thought I heard something."

"What do you want, Chris?", Lily asked, obviously wanting him to leave.

"I want to apologise and explain. I was afraid of my own emotions, I didn't know what to say. You are so beautiful, my Lily, so perfect in every way, and sometimes my love for you scares me."

He noticed how her eyes got a look of interest in them.

"Why are you hiding?", she asked and leaned out of the window.

"I wanted to seize this opportunity, to talk to you without you seeing my face. Only listen to my voice, my love, and I will listen to yours. I want to listen to it, for ever, every day of my life, for it is the voice of love itself."

The other three girls giggled behind Lily, but she didn't hear them.

"Go on", she said.

"Words are hard to find sometimes, Lily", he continued. "Many of the most beautiful words we have are used up in the wrong way. I search through my mind and heart to try and find the right words to say to you, but then, when I think about you, your flawless beauty, your gentle heart and your brilliant mind, I tremble and loose all words, except one: Lily."

James sighed and loosened up. His voice got as soft as silk and flew through the air to his love.

"Lily... Two syllables, forever locked in my memory, forever written in my heart. The lily is the most beautiful of all flowers, but it withers all too soon, while you, my darling, are immortal. You, the most brilliant witch the world has ever seen, you wonderful creation of spirit, laughter, life and love, you are not made to die."

He paused a little.

"I have longed for this moment my whole life, Lily. To love someone so fantastic as you and to tell you how I feel. There is a deep, bottomless sea of love inside me and sometimes I feel like I'm drowning. Occasionally storms come upon that sea and the storm rages, screams, tears me apart and all I want to do is hold you close to me, feel your heart beat next to mine, call out my love to the entire world, whisper in your ear that I love you and drown in the sea with you in my arms. But don't be frightened, my love, I would never harm you. While my love is as strong and wild as a fire breathing dragon, it's as gentle as the falling leaves on an autumn morning and the soft locks of your hair. I have dreamt about your hair, Lily. Your hair, your eyes, your arms, your hands, your face, your body and your soul, I have dreamt about them all in my lonely nights. I can hardly believe it, has the moment come at last, when I can talk to you like this?"

"Yes", Lily said and trembled with emotions. Caliope, Amanda and Maya stood behind her and looked like they were going to faint.

"Then, Chris", Lily continued, "if this is the moment, what will you tell me?"

"Everything! Everything,!" he yelled with fire in his voice. "I wouldn't talk to you calmly, I would be mad. I don't want to give you pretty bouquets of words, I would throw wild words of love at you, shower you with flowers of uncontrolled desire. I love you, Lily! I burn, I die and I adore you! My love, my Lily, you are the air that I breathe, you are my soul and everything I need and desire!"

"Calm down", Chris whispered. "You're going too far."

"And so are you", she said with tears in her eyes. "I cry. I am yours, all of me."

"It's working", Chris whispered again, triumphantly. "Go on."

"Then my happiness is complete", James said. "Have I touched you so deeply? I? Then I am ready for Death now, because you tremble at my words."

"Like a leaf on a tree", she said.

"I want you now", a voice interrupted loudly. James turned around and knew that it had been the real Chris talking.

"What?", Lily asked.

"Shut up, Chris", James hissed angrily.

"What are you saying?", Lily asked. James thought fast.

"I told myself to be quiet, it is too early. Forget what I said."

"You want me?"

"Lily", James continued. "I always want you. Your arms around me, your hands on my body and your lips against mine. My love, what is a kiss? In a kiss is everything I've ever wanted to tell you, everything I've ever wanted to say and do. A kiss speaks the language only lovers talk and hear, and you would hear the soundless words that sing in my heart whenever you are near. Lily, my heart's treasure, my angel and my light, let me hold you like never before, let me devour you with kisses, let me come to you, now."

The other three girls sighed from the bottom of their hearts, and so did Lily. James could see her face, and he had never seen her like this before. So moved, so beautiful, and it made his heart flame. He was actually telling her how he felt, and when he saw the love in her eyes he felt more full of power and energy than ever before.

"There will never be another tonight, Lily", James said. "There is a tiny little word, and if you said it to me, now, it would make all my dreams come true."

"What word, Chris?"

"'Yes'. 'Yes', Lily."

"Yes, Chris."

Chris flew around the corner again and took off the invisibility cloak. As he flew back, he threw it over James and headed for the window. Lily didn't saw that there were actually two boys outside her window. James hid beneath the cloak and saw how Chris flew into the room, took Lily in his arms and kissed her to the sound of the other three girls sighing.

With tears in his eyes James left his spot and got back to his dormitory.

"Oh God, I did it", he thought. "Oh shit, I did it! Merlin, help me! Please, don't let that creep come to close to her."